Ald method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An animal exercise wheel is illuminated by LEDs connected to a battery via a reed switch. A magnet actuates the reed switch when an animal begins to rotate the wheel. The LEDs flash with the frequency of rotation of the animal wheel or continuously. As long as the wheel rotates, the magnet continues to actuate the reed switch, which resets a counter. When the wheel stops and the reed switch is no longer actuated, the counter counts a predetermined time, and terminates the illumination of the LEDs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/784,189 filed May 20, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to small animal exercise devices, suchas mouse exercise wheels, and more particularly to such devices thatinclude electrical lights.

2. Background of the Invention

Exercise wheels that small animals, such as mice or hamsters, can climbinto and turn by themselves are well known and are sold in nearly everypet store. The invention was created because the inventor, who iscurrently twelve years old, has a twin sister who raises mice. Oneevening, while the inventor watched his sister's mice spin theirexercise wheels, he thought it would be nice if the turning of the wheelgenerated electricity while spinning the wheel. He told his idea to hisfather, who is a patent attorney with many clients who are inventors.The inventor's father and one of the clients, who is an expert in LEDlighted devices, tried to design a mouse wheel with a small electricalgenerator that would generate enough electricity to light several LEDs.This attempt was not successful, because every device that could beimagined cost too much to build to make it a viable commercial product.Some time later, the inventor found on the Internet several examples ofmouse wheels that turned an electrical generator. All of these were socomplex that they would tend to be unreliable; in fact, one examplefailed during tests in a You-tube video. In addition, all of the animalwheels with electrical generators would cost so much to manufacture thatthey would have to be sold at a price at which parents would balk andwhich would not be acceptable in pet stores. This is likely the reasonthat no lighted pet wheels are presently commercially available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor was not deterred by the lack of success of his father andhis father's client as well as the adults who built lighted mouse wheelsand displayed them on the Internet. He was determined to make a lightedmouse wheel for his sister. He reasoned that by using a battery, LEDs,and some kind of switch, he could fool his sister into thinking that hermice were generating electricity when they turned their wheels. Hesearched the Internet for switches, but found mechanical switches he didnot think would work well. He has always been fascinated by the abilityof magnets to move magnetic materials at a distance without physicalcontact. He searched the Internet for magnetic switches and discoveredreed switches. His father contacted a company that made reed switchesand obtained several samples. The inventor got a battery pack and someLEDs at Radio Shack, soldered together a simple circuit, put somemagnets on one of his sister's mouse wheels, and it worked remarkablywell on first try. The parts that he used cost a total of approximately$4.00 at Radio Shack, so it was clear that, if parts were boughtwholesale and built in volume, the cost would be under a dollar; and acommercial product could be manufactured at a cost that was acceptableby parents and at pet stores.

The invention provides an animal wheel that is simple, reliable, and canbe built at a cost that makes it commercially useful. With the animalwheel according to the invention, we have discovered that most children,and, in fact, most people are amused, if not fascinated, by an animalwheel that lights up when the animal turns it. Most think that, becausethe lights light up only when the wheel turns, and go out when the wheelstops, the electricity that lights the wheel is generated by the animalturning the wheel.

The inventor has found that it is not necessary that the animal actuallygenerate electricity when turning the wheel, but only that it is evidentthat the action of the animal turning the wheel activates the light orlights. The animal wheel according to the invention includes a powersource, such as a battery, and one or more lights that are illuminatedby the power source. The lights are switched on by the action of theanimal turning the wheel, and switched off when the wheel stops.Preferably, the light or lights are LEDs. Preferably, the lights turn onand off with a frequency that depends on the speed of the wheel. Thisassists in creating the illusion that the mouse is generating theelectricity to turn the wheel. However, the inventor has also discoveredthat an embodiment in which the lights stay lighted continuously as longas the wheel turns, and turns off quickly when the wheel stops, alsostrongly creates the illusion that the wheel is generating theelectricity that lights the lights. This illusion, in any of theembodiments, that the animal is generating electricity by turning thewheel, greatly increases the enjoyment of the animal owner.

In a simple embodiment, the invention provides a power source, such as abattery; one or more lights, such as LEDs; a switch connecting thebattery and the power source; and a switch activator that activates theswitch when the wheel turns. Preferably, the switch is a reed switch andthe switch activator is a magnet.

The invention provides an animal exercise wheel comprising: a rotatablecage having an opening that can be entered by an animal weighing fivepounds or less; the cage capable of being rotated by the animal; one ormore lights; a battery; a switch connecting the one or more lights andthe battery; and a switch actuator; wherein one of the switch and theswitch actuator is mounted on the rotatable cage and the other one ofthe switch and the switch actuator is located on a non-moving surfaceadjacent to the animal cage and sufficiently close to the rotatable cagethat the switch can be actuated by the switch actuator. Preferably, theswitch is a reed switch and the switch actuator is a magnet. Preferably,the magnet is mounted on the animal wheel and the reed switch is in oron housing adjacent to the animal wheel. Preferably, the reed switch ismounted on the animal wheel and the magnet is located adjacent to theanimal wheel. Preferably, the animal exercise wheel further includeshousing and the battery; the switch and the lights are enclosed by orsupported on the housing. Preferably, the housing fits under the animalwheel and the switch actuator is mounted on the animal wheel.Preferably, the housing is attached to the animal wheel. Preferably, thelights are mounted on the animal wheel. Preferably, weight isdistributed on the rotatable cage so that it tends to stop in a positionwherein the switch and switch actuator are sufficiently separated so theswitch actuator cannot actuate the switch.

The invention also provides a method of lighting a rotatable animalwheel, the method comprising: providing one or more lights; triggeringthe illumination of the one or more lights by the rotation of an animalwheel; and stopping the illumination of the one or more lights when theanimal wheel stops rotating. Preferably, the illumination begins withintwo seconds of the animal wheel beginning to rotate. Preferably, theillumination stops within two seconds of the animal wheel ceasingrotating. Preferably, the triggering comprises switching a reed switchwith a magnet, and the stopping comprises turning off the illuminationwith a second switch when the reed switch fails to open within apredetermined time. Preferably, the illumination is continuous betweenthe triggering and the stopping. Preferably, the illumination comprisesflashing the lights at a frequency determined by the speed of rotationof the animal wheel.

The invention also provides a kit for lighting a rotatable animal wheel,the kit comprising: a magnet; a housing; a plurality of batterycontacts; one or more LEDs; a reed switch connected between one of thebattery contacts and the one or more LEDs; the plurality of batterycontacts, the one or more LEDs, and the reed switch are contained in orsupported by the housing; and an attachment device for attaching eitherthe magnet or the housing to a rotatable animal wheel. Preferably, theattaching device attaches the magnet to the animal wheel. Preferably,the attaching device attaches the housing to the animal wheel.

In addition to providing, for the first time, a battery-powered lightedanimal wheel, the invention provides several other innovative features.For example, it provides a lighted animal wheel in which the lighting istriggered when an illumination switch is adjacent to a switch actuator,which also turns off the lights if the wheel stops in a position inwhich the switch actuator is adjacent the switch actuator and thus wouldotherwise keep the light(s) illuminated. As another example, it providesa lighted animal wheel in which the lighting is triggered when anillumination switch is adjacent to a switch actuator, which holds thelight(s) continuously activated until the wheel stops, which isdetermined by the fact that the switch stops sending triggering signalsfor a predetermined time, such as two seconds, or more preferably asecond, and most preferably a half-second.

The invention not only provides a lighted animal wheel that is much moreattractive to children and other people than any previous animal wheel,but also provides a lighted animal wheel that is not very complex and,thus, lends itself to manufacturing. Numerous other advantages andfeatures of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a combinationof an animal wheel with an aftermarket kit according to the inventionfor lighting the system responsive to the animal turning the wheel;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of an integrated animalwheel and illumination system according to the invention that isilluminated by an animal turning the wheel;

FIG. 3 is an electronic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a systemaccording to the invention for lighting an animal wheel;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of a processaccording to the invention for turning off the lights of an animal wheelaccording to the invention if the animal stops turning the wheel whilethe lights are on;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of ananimal wheel according to the invention that can be illuminated by theaction of an animal turning the wheel;

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of another preferred embodiment of ananimal wheel according to the invention that can be illuminated by theaction of an animal turning the wheel;

FIG. 7 is a cut-away plan view of a lighting module of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an electronic circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of acircuit according to the invention that turns lights on when the sensorsenses movement of an actuator, and automatically turns itself off whenmovement is no longer sensed; and

FIG. 9 is another preferred embodiment of an integrated animal wheel andillumination system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment 10 of acombination of an animal wheel 15 with a lighting system 12. Thelighting system 12 includes a lighting circuit module 40 and actuators30 which, in this embodiment, are magnets. System 12 is an example of anafter-market lighting system according to the invention that can beadded to almost any animal wheel 15. Lighting system 10 illuminateslights 45 responsive to the animal turning the wheel 15. Lights 45 arepreferably LEDs. It is understood that this embodiment and otherembodiments described in this disclosure are exemplary. It is notintended that the invention be limited to the specific embodiments.Rather, the description is intended to fulfill the disclosurerequirements of the patent law. It is also understood that the drawingsdo not in all cases represent the relative sizes of the various parts,but that adjustments have been made to better explain the invention. Forexample, the housing 42 in FIG. 2 is much larger as compared to the sizeof wheel 15 than an actual commercial housing so that it can contain thevarious circuit elements without lack of clarity due to crowding and/orsmall print.

Continuing with the description of FIG. 1, wheel 15 includes supportbeams 20, rims 21, and mesh structure 23. Wheel 15 is supported by wheelsupport 25, which includes arms 31, foot 32, and axle 29, which in thisembodiment comprises the distal end of arm 31 bent at right angles tothe arm. Holes 28 are formed in beams 20, and axels 29 rotatably fit inholes 28. Brace 37 is preferably a little wider than foot 32 to providelateral support and is welded to the foot at 33. In this embodiment,wheel support 25 and brace 37 comprise a heavy wire. Wheel 15, in thisembodiment, is a conventional mouse wheel that currently can be found inmost pet stores that sell mice. Any other suitable mouse, rat, hamster,or other small animal wheel may be substituted. In this disclosure,“small animal wheel” means an animal wheel suitable for an animalweighting three pounds or less, preferably less than a pound, and mostpreferably less than half a pound.

Animal wheel 15 is converted to a lighted animal wheel by lightingsystem 12. Lighting circuit module 40 is placed in the foot cavity 17,and magnets 30 are affixed to wheel mesh 23, preferably by epoxy orother strong glue. Lighting circuit module 40 includes a circuit 143,such as shown in FIG. 2, enclosed in a plastic enclosure 42, with theLEDs 45 of the circuit extending through the top of the enclosure. In amore preferred embodiment, the magnets are manufactured with a built-inclasp that mechanically attaches them to the wheel mesh 23. The magnetsmay also be attached to one of the rims 21, one of the arms 20, or anyother moving part of the wheel 15. As will be described in FIG. 2, whenwheel 15 is spun by the animals, magnets 30 move across lighting circuitmodule 40.

A problem that can occur with the lighted animal wheel system 10, 100and the circuit 143 of FIG. 2 is that when the mouse or other animalstops spinning the wheel, the wheel can stop with one of the magnetsdirectly over lighting module 40, 140. This will cause the light to stayon, which wastes battery power, but also negatively affects the illusionthat the mouse is generating the power to light the lights. Thisillusion has been found to be an important part of the attraction of thedevice. The illusion can be maintained by applying a small weight 35,135 to a portion of the wheel between magnets 30, 130. This causes thewheel to always stop with the weight down, which is a lights offposition. Alternatively, magnets 30, 130 can be attached slightlyasymmetrically, so that for balance, the wheel always stops with themagnets away from module 40, 140. As another alternative, a few extracross-pieces of the mesh 23 can be placed in one area of the mesh spacedfrom the magnets, so that portion of the mesh is slightly heavier. Asanother example, the hole 28 and axel 29 can be formed with a flat orother shaped area that causes the wheel 15 to stop with the magnets awayfrom the lighting module. Any other suitable method or apparatus tocause the animal wheel to stop with the magnets away from lightingmodule 40, 140 may be used.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another preferred embodiment of an animal wheelsystem 100 according to the invention. The system 100 is similar tosystem 10 of FIG. 1, except that it is mounted on top of lighting modulecase 142 via legs 125 and 126, the distal ends, such as 129, of whichare attached to case 142 of housing module 140 with studs 127. Lightingmodule case 142 preferably is made of plastic. Lighting circuit 143comprises lights 145, sense switch 150, power source 155, logic 160,counter 170, and reset switch 175. Preferably, lights 145 are LEDs,sense switch 150 is a reed switch, power source 155 is a battery pack,and logic 160 is a pulse generator suitable to generate pulses inresponse to the circuit turning on, which pulses can be counted bycounter 170. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, logic 160 also includes adivider that divides the number of times the circuit turns on by three,so that one pulse is generated for each revolution of wheel 115.Preferably, counter 170 is an electronic counter, and reset switch 175is a switch which applies a reset pulse to counter 170. Logic 160,counter 170, and reset switch 175 all are powered by source 155, thoughthe connections are conventional and, therefore, are not expresslyshown. Preferably, reed switch 150 is a normally open reed switch,though, from this disclosure, one skilled in the art would also know howto use a normally closed reed switch for this application. In onepreferred embodiment, battery pack 155 is a 3V battery pack using two AAbatteries. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, reed switch 150, LEDs 145,source 155, and logic 160 are connected in series; and a pulse output oflogic 160 is connected to counter 170. However, in the more preferredembodiment, the LEDs are connected in parallel as in FIG. 3. Switch 175is connected across the reset input 172 and the ground 173 of counter170.

FIG. 3 is an electronic diagram of another preferred embodiment of acircuit 240 according to the invention for lighting an animal wheel.Circuit 240 includes a sensor 250, which is preferably a reed switch,lights 245, which are preferably LEDs, resistors 247, system on/offswitch 267, which is preferably a mechanical switch, power source 65,which is preferably a battery, revolution counter and display 270 havinga reset input 275, a circuit on control circuit 280, and an open sensorpulse circuit 285. The circuit on control circuit 280 includes a timercomprising oscillator 290 and counter 292 having a reset input 293. Thecircuit on control circuit 280 also includes logic switch 294. LEDs 245preferably are connected in parallel between sensor 250 and battery 265,which are connected in series with logic switch 294. Oscillator 290provides oscillator pulses which are counted with counter 292, whichpreferably is adjustable. Counter 292 is preferably set so that itprovides a pulse to logic switch 294 after a predetermined time, such astwo seconds. When logic switch 294 receives a pulse from counter 292, itturns off and also provides a pulse on line 295 to reset input 293 ofcounter 292 to reset the counter and a pulse on line 297 to reset theopen sensor pulser 285. Open sensor pulser 285 provides a pulse on line297 whenever sensor 250 opens, which pulse closes logic switch 294.Counter 292 also provides a pulse to revolution counter and display 270,which advances one unit for each revolution of the wheel, such as 15.System on/off switch 267 can be used to manually turn circuit 240 on andoff. Together, the circuit on sensor circuit 280 and open sensor pulser285 turn off the circuit 240 if sensor switch 250 is on for thepredetermined period, and then turn it back on again after the sensorswitch opens. This process flow is shown in FIG. 4. Sensor actuator 230preferably is attached to animal wheel 15, 215 and is preferably amagnet.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of a processaccording to the invention for turning off the lights of an animal wheelaccording to the invention if the animal stops turning the wheel whilethe lights are on. The process 300 starts at 305. At 310, the timer,e.g. counter 292, is reset. The time is counted at 315 as long as thecurrent through the sensor switch is on, which is determined at 320,which cycles the process to 315 if the current is on, and cycles theprocess to 330 when the time reaches the predetermined time, such as twoseconds. At 330, the logic switch 294 switches the circuit 240 off. TheOpen sensor pulser 285 checks the sensor switch 250 at 235, and as longas it is closed, cycles via 340 and 335. When sensor switch 250 isopened, such as when the animal starts turning the wheel again, theprocess returns to 310 via 345, the timer 288 is reset, and the countbegins again.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of ananimal wheel system 400 according to the invention that includes ananimal wheel 408 with a built-in lighting system 430 according to theinvention that can be illuminated by the action of an animal turning thewheel. Wheel 408 includes a wheel body 410, a stand 420, and an axlemechanism 440. Wheel body 410 is in the shape of a tub 412 having anopen end 414. Tub 412 has a cylindrical portion 413 having an innercylindrical surface 416 with treads 418 and an outer cylindrical surface419. Stand 420 comprises an enclosed foot portion 422, legs 424 and 426,and an axel support 428 (FIG. 6). Axel mechanism 440 includes an axel442 and a bearing 444. Wheel 408 is a type of animal wheel that is knownin the art; therefore, it will not be described in more detail herein.Lighting system 430 comprises electronic parts located in tubes, such as450, attached to the outer cylindrical surface 419 and magnet 470mounted on stand 420. Four tubes 482 enclose a sense switch, indicatedby “SS”, preferably a reed switch. Two tubes 484, indicated by a “L”,each have a pair of lights 486, preferably LEDs, attached to either end.Two tubes 480 contain a battery, indicated by “B”. The electronic partsare connected into a lighting circuit 488 as shown in any of FIG. 2, 3,or 8, by wiring embedded in wheel 408. If the circuit 488 also includesother elements, such as an oscillator, a counter, logic, etc., this willbe included in tubes 482 and 484. The various electronic parts aredistributed in the tubes over surface 419 so that the wheel 408 isbalanced, or preferably, slightly unbalanced so that the wheel tends tostop in a position in which a tube 482 including a sense switch is notover magnet 470.

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of a wheel system 500 similar to thatof FIG. 5 except that the lightings 530 is included in a plurality oftubes 520, each of which contains all of the illumination elements(except the magnet 470) necessary to light the system. The structure ofeach such tube 520 and its contents is shown in FIG. 7, which is acutaway drawing of a tube 520 showing the electronic elements 533 insidethe tube. Each tube 520 contains a pair of lights 525 and 527,preferably LEDs, a battery 530, which is preferably a AAAA battery, asense switch 535, which is preferably a reed switch, battery contacts540 and 543, and connecting wiring 547, 548, 549, 551, and 555. Wire 547is connected between positive contact 540 and the positive terminal ofLED 525, wire 548 is connected between the negative contact 543 andterminal 552 of reed switch 535, wire 549 is connected between theterminal 553 of reed switch 535 and the negative terminal of LED 527,wire 551 is connected between the positive battery contact 540 and thepositive terminal of LED 527, and wire 555 is connected between terminal553 of reed switch 535 and the negative terminal of LED 525. One side522 of each tube 520 is flattened to fit snuggly against surface 419 ofwheel 408. Each tube 520 has a pair of studs 560 with an inner bore 563.Each tube 520 is fastened to wheel surface 419 by screws 566 which passthrough wheel cylinder 413 and screw into bores 563 in studs 560. Otherattachment systems, such as epoxy, glue, or any other suitableattachment mechanism may be used. Magnet 470 may be attached to theinside or outside of stand 420 using epoxy, glue, or other attachmentmechanism. The lighting system 530 may be an after-market system that issold separately from wheel 408 and attached to wheel 408.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of another preferred embodiment 600 of alighting system according to the invention. System 600 mimics a systemin which the spinning wheel turns a generator to light the wheel, but isless complex and more reliable than such a system. The magnet is notshown in FIG. 8. Lighting system 600 comprises a sensor 610, preferablya reed switch, a timer circuit 616, preferably including an oscillator620 and a counter 626, a logic switch 640, a power source 60, lightcircuit 642, and system on/off circuit 670. Counter 626 includes a resetinput 627, and logic switch 640 includes a switch 632, the position ofwhich is determined by a logic state of logic switch 640. Power source660 is preferably a battery. Light circuit 642 comprises lights 644 and646, which are preferably LEDs, and preferably includes resistors 648and 649. System on/of circuit 670 is connected across the voltage sourceand preferably includes a manual switch 672, a ground terminal 674 and asystem voltage terminal 676. Ground 674 and the system voltage, V, areapplied to each of the circuit elements 620, 627, and 640. Terminal 611of sensor 610 is connected to the system voltage V, and terminal 612 isconnected to the reset input 627 of counter 626. The output 622 ofoscillator 620 is connected to counter 426, and the output 628 ofcounter 626 is applied to logic switch 640. One terminal 634 of switch632 is connected to the negative terminals of LEDs 644 and 646 via line638 and resistors 648 and 649, respectively. The other terminal 635 ofswitch 632 is connected to the negative terminal 661 of power source 660via line 636. The positive terminal 662 of power source 660 is connectedto the positive terminals of LEDs 644 and 646.

Lighting system 600 operates as follows. When the wheel it is associatedwith begins to move, sensor switch 610 closes when it is in the vicinityof a sensor actuator, such as a magnet. This pulses the reset input ofcounter 626, causing it to output an “ON” logic state on its output 628and to begin counting pulses from oscillator 620. When the “ON” logicstate is applied to logic switch 640, switch 632 closes. This lightslights 644 and 646. The lights stay on as long as the “ON” logic stateis applied to logic switch 640. As long as the wheel with which thecircuit 600 is associated continues to turn, sensor 610 continues toreset counter 626, and counter 626 continues to count and continues toapply the “ON” logic state to its output 628. However, if counter 626 isnot reset for a prescribed time, it counts out and outputs an “OFF”logic state on its output 628 which opens switch 632 and turns offlights 644 and 646. The count at which counter 626 counts out is set toa suitably short time such that the lights 644 and 646 appear to go outas soon as, or shortly after, the wheel stops. This prescribed time ispreferably less than two seconds, more preferably less than a second,and most preferably less than half a second. Small animals, such asmice, tend to turn their wheels fast enough so that, with just a coupleof magnets mounted on the wheel, the time delay between the wheelstopping and the lights going out is not distinguishable by humanbeings, except by someone who understands what is driving the device andis carefully scrutinizing the timing. Three or four magnets make thetime delay even shorter so even someone that knows the design of thedevice and is watching for time delays cannot tell that the movement ofthe wheel and the lighting of the lights are not perfectly synchronized.Further, all electrical generator circuits have some capacitance thatcauses the electricity to continue to flow for an instant after thegeneration stops, which the short delay between the stoppage of thewheel and the ceasing of the lighting mimics. Thus, the circuit 600mimics the lighting produced by an animal wheel electrical generatorcircuit.

FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of a lighted animal wheel system 700according to the invention. System 700 includes an animal wheel 408 anda stand 420 as in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, except for thedifferences noted below. However, the lighting system 750 is partiallyon the wheel 408 and partially in the enclosed foot portion 422 of stand420. Lights 720, preferably LEDs, are mounted on surface 419 of wheel408. Sensor actuators, preferably magnets 760, are also mounted onsurface 419. In this embodiment, preferably there are three LEDs andthree magnets. The power source and a circuit 705, such as shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 8, without the lights, are enclosed in the foot portion422 of stand 420. Sensor 710, preferably a reed switch, is locatedwithin foot 422, so that magnets 760 pass over it. The circuit 705 andthe lights 720 are electrically connected via a conductor 712 thatpasses through leg 714, a metal spring arm 734, contact 737, andcircular conductive trace 730 on the back 731 of wheel 408. Trace 730 isconnected via wire 725 to one terminal of light 720. Preferably, wire725 is covered with a brightly colored flat plastic strip 727 so that itacts as a decorative addition to wheel 408. The return path for theelectricity is via a second conductor 728 in or under strip 727 whichconnects to a metal portion of bearing 718 which connects to a conductor710 in leg 716 which connects to circuit 705. Bearing 718 and theterminal of conductors 710 and 712 are enclosed by enclosure 758.

A feature of the invention is that the illumination of the lights istriggered by the animal turning the wheel. Another feature of theinvention is that the lights are illuminated essentially only in thetime that the animal is spinning the wheel. Here, “essentially only inthe time that the animal is spinning the wheel” means that thedifference between the time that the wheel begins to spin and the timethe lights are illuminated is two seconds or less, more preferably asecond or less, and most preferably a half-second or less. Preferably,this also means that the difference between the time the wheel stopsspinning and the lights go out is two seconds or less, more preferably asecond or less, and most preferably a half-second or less. This createsthe illusion that the animal is generating the electricity thatilluminates the lights. A prototype mouse wheel as in FIG. 1 wasdemonstrated by the inventor in a confidential private test toapproximately twenty witnesses. This prototype used a type HCH9216 6/9reed switch manufactured by Hasco Components of New Hyde Park, N.Y.11040. The witnesses uniformly thought that the mouse was generating theelectricity by turning the wheel, and generated many different theoriesof how the device operated, such as the theory that the housing 40enclosed an inductor in which the magnets generated a current. The testaudience included a half-dozen children who were genuinely attracted bythe device. The mouse seemed to enjoy the lights also, as it stayedspinning the wheel for nearly an hour.

Now that the value of imitating the functionality of an animal wheelthat generates electricity with an animal wheel powered by a battery ispresented, those not so skilled in the art can copy the device and tryto get around the claims by substituting other switches and switchactuators. For example, a coil can be substituted for the reed switch,and an EMF generator can be substituted for the magnets, or even amechanical switch can be devised that physically contacts the animalwheel, particularly with the circuit of FIG. 8.

A feature of the invention is that it provides, for the first time, abattery-powered lighted animal wheel. Another feature is that theinvention provides a lighted animal wheel in which the lighting istriggered when an illumination switch is adjacent to a switch actuator,which lighted animal wheel also includes a circuit that turns off thelights if the wheel stops in a position in which the switch actuator isadjacent to the switch actuator and, thus, would otherwise keep thelight(s) illuminated. Another feature of the invention is that itprovides a lighted animal wheel in which the lighting is triggered whenan illumination switch is adjacent to a switch actuator, which lightedanimal wheel also includes a circuit that holds the light(s)continuously activated until the wheel stops. The fact that the wheel isstopped is determined by the fact that the switch stops sendingtriggering signals for a predetermined time, such as two seconds, ormore preferably a second, and most preferably a half-second.

There has been described a novel lighted animal wheel that stronglyenhances the attractiveness of such an animal wheel to children andother people. At the same time, the present lighted animal wheel has amuch less complex design than previous lighted wheels. It should beunderstood that the specific formulations and methods described hereinare exemplary and should not be construed to limit the invention, whichwill be described in the claims below. Further, it is evident that thoseskilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of thespecific embodiments described without departing from the inventiveconcepts. As one example, one or more batteries may be used; that is,the elements of the device may be incorporated with a coin type battery,a rechargeable type battery, a type A, type AA, type AAA, type AAAA,type C, or type D battery, camera batteries, watch batteries, and anyother type of battery. This also may include any battery chemistryincluding, but not limited to, zinc-carbon batteries, alkalinebatteries, and lithium ion batteries. Any of the embodiments,particularly that of FIG. 7, may be plugged into an AC circuit. Any ofthe parts of any one of the embodiments may be combined with any of theparts of any of the other embodiments. Equivalent structures andprocesses may be substituted for the various structures and processesdescribed; the subprocesses of the inventive method may, in someinstances, be performed in a different order; or a variety of differentmaterials and elements may be used. Consequently, the invention is to beconstrued as embracing each and every novel feature and novelcombination of features present in and/or possessed by the small animalexercise device described.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A method of lighting a rotatable animal wheel, saidmethod comprising: providing one or more lights; triggering theillumination of said one or more lights by the rotation of saidrotatable animal wheel; and stopping said illumination of said one ormore lights when said rotatable animal wheel stops rotating.
 11. Amethod as in claim 10 wherein said illumination begins within twoseconds of said animal wheel beginning to rotate.
 12. A method as inclaim 10 wherein said illumination stops within two seconds of saidanimal wheel ceasing to rotate.
 13. A method as in claim 10 wherein saidtriggering comprises switching a reed switch with a magnet, and saidstopping comprises turning off said illumination with a second switchwhen said reed switch fails to open within a predetermined time.
 14. Amethod as in claim 10 wherein said illumination is continuous betweensaid triggering and said stopping.
 15. A method as in claim 10 whereinsaid illumination comprises flashing said lights at a frequencydetermined by the speed of rotation of said rotatable animal wheel. 16.A kit for lighting a rotatable animal wheel, said kit comprising: amagnet; a housing; a plurality of battery contacts; one or more LEDs; areed switch connected between one of said battery contacts and said oneor more LEDs; said plurality of battery contacts, said one or more LEDs,and said reed switch are contained in or supported by said housing; andan attachment device for attaching either said magnet or said housing toa rotatable animal wheel.
 17. A kit as in claim 16 wherein saidattaching device attaches said magnet to said animal wheel.
 18. A kit asin claim 16 wherein said attaching device attaches said housing to saidanimal wheel. 19-20. (canceled)
 21. An animal exercise wheel comprising:a rotatable cage having an opening that can be entered by an animalweighing five pounds or less; said cage capable of being rotated by saidanimal; one or more lights; a battery; a switch connecting said one ormore lights and said battery; and a switch actuator; wherein one of saidswitch and said switch actuator is mounted on said rotatable cage andthe other one of said switch and said switch actuator is located on anon-moving surface adjacent said animal cage and sufficiently close tosaid rotatable cage that said switch can be actuated by said switchactuator; and wherein said switch is a reed switch and said switchactuator is a magnet.